NGLCC Announces Business Training Partnership with the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City

June 27, 2017

Washington, DC – The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the business voice of the LGBT community, is pleased to announce its partnership with the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City’s (ICIC) Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program.

Through the partnership, NGLCC’s 48 Local Affiliate Chambers across the country will be able to nominate LGBT-owned businesses in their chamber to participate in ICCC, which provides executive education, coaching and connections to potential capital providers. Business owners accepted into the program will enhance their skills that enable them to grow, create jobs, and raise capital, ultimately strengthening the communities where they operate.

“At NGLCC we are constantly looking for opportunities to provide our certified LGBT Businesses Enterprises with valuable opportunities for growth” said NGLCC Co-Founder & President Justin Nelson. “We are excited to be working with an organization dedicated to small business development, and am looking forward to further promoting sustainable LGBT-owned business growth in underserved communities across the country.”

“Our newest partnership will empower affiliate chambers by allowing leaders to reach out directly to business owners in need of additional resources and education” said NGLCC Senior Vice President Sam McClure. “This partnership will not only help our certified business grow, but it will help strengthen the important relationships between these businesses and their affiliate chamber.”

Founded in 1994 by Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter, ICIC is a national nonprofit research and advisory organization and the leading authority on U.S. inner city economies and the businesses that thrive there. ICIC creates economic opportunity in America’s inner cities through private sector investments to stimulate job and income growth for local residents. Its ICCC program positions inner city businesses for long-term success and, since its launch in 2005, alumni have created over 12,000 jobs, raised $1.4 billion in capital and grown revenues by an average of 184%.

“The NGLCC will be a key partner as we grow Inner City Capital Connections. We are excited to raise awareness among LGBT business owners about this transformative program,” said ICCC Director Hyacinth Vassell. “By including more diverse businesses, we can better expand on the program’s success and continue to promote economic inclusivity nationwide.”

Information on the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City can be found at: http://www.icic.org

ABOUT NGLCCThe National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is the business voice of the LGBT community and is the largest global not-for-profit advocacy organization specifically dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBT people. NGLCC is the exclusive certification body for LGBT-owned businesses.www.nglcc.org@nglcc